Popular Mechanics articles from April 2002

Popular Mechanics archives from April 2002

Do the mash. (Editor's Notes).(Editorial)
April 1, 2002... * Each April, our automotive staff goes to great lengths to bring you a very special drive report on some special vehicle. In years past, we've road tested such breakthrough vehicles as limousines, earthmovers, roller coasters and even police...

Behind enemy lines.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... Great article about the Navy's Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five. I'm glad to know such brave men are out there doing the job they do. But as a U.S. Air Force veteran, I would like to bring to your attention the units of the U.S. Air...

King of all laptops.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... The Dell might be a nice laptop, but it's not "the king" when compared to the Macintosh Powerbook G4. You said the Dell Latitude C400 retails for $2796. The Mac Powerbook G4 offers much more for $2999. Plus, the Mac will run any PC program with...

Bike helmets.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... Thanks for the article on the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. In August 1999, I was riding with the Hiawatha Bicycling Club and hit a rock as I was going down a steep hill. Fortunately, I was wearing a properly fitting Giro helmet. The...

Water sports.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... It doesn't matter to me what your boating models wear. However, I think it only fair that you provide balance. Let's see some similarly clad male models too. Just make sure they're as good-looking as the females. None of us wants to see some...

Reader project of the month.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... In 1961, we purchased houseboat blueprints from you. In 1965, in our backyard, we began construction of the "Bote." In 1967, we put it in the waters of the St. Croix River near Stillwater, Minn., and ever since it has given us and our four...

Time machine.(this month in popular mechanics history)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... 100 Years Ago: April 1902 Juice In 1902, 27,000 kilowatts was considered big-time electricity. Producing all this current was the Harrison Street Station of the Chicago-Edison Co., and at the time it was considered to be one of the...

Reader stories.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... Editor's Note--On the occasion of our 100th birthday, we're ever more aware that POPULAR MECHANICS has not only become an American cultural icon but also touched the lives of many of our readers. You, the reader, make us something special. As...

Longtime subscribers.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2002... My husband, Donald Minster, subscribed to your magazine for many years in Pennsylvania. He made many beautiful and useful things from plans in POPULAR MECHANICS. Though he has been gone five years and our three sons are in California, I, at age...

Light guards pipelines. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... America's hidden transport system--a network of hundreds of thousands of miles of underground pipelines that carry liquid fuels, heating oil and natural gas--may get 24-hour protection from an unusual guardian: tiny bursts of light. ...

Corvettes make the grade. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... What teenage boy hasn't drawn his dream car while daydreaming in class? But only a lucky few draw a grade instead of detention for their efforts. At the University of Cincinnati School of Design, a dozen students were given a special...

Standby for fuel cells. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(zinc regenerative fuel cell from Metallic Power)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Metallic Power of Carlsbad, Calif., has successfully tested what it calls a zinc regenerative fuel cell (ZRFC). During a blackout, zinc fuel pellets react with oxygen to produce electric current and zinc oxide. When power returns, some of the...

Learning from alligators. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Carefully watching the way alligators walk has led biologists to a new theory about dinosaurs. Alligators and dinosaurs evolved from a common ancestor, explains University of Utah biologist Colleen Farmer. When motivated, alligators can...

View to a kill. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(eMagin Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... A tiny, color computer display will give fighters a clearer view of enemy forces. Developed by eMagin Corp. of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., the display maintains its clarity in severe vibration and shock conditions, and is unaffected by high...

Underground movies for commuters. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... A dark tunnel in Atlanta's MARTA North Line is the canvas for a new advertising medium--the subway movie. Submedia of New York has installed 4800 light boxes, containing sequential images of an ad, on the tunnel's walls. As the train car...

Quick change plane interior. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Boeing Co.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Airlines that fly passengers and cargo will be able to use the same aircraft for both. The Boeing Co. has introduced a new Quick Change option for buyers of its 737-700C series plane. The "C" stands for "conversion." In about an hour, a trained...

Natural adhesive mends broken hearts. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(from CryoLife Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... One of the basic ingredients for French toast--the albumin found in milk and eggs--is the key to a new type of biological glue that can repair leaky hearts and torn lungs. Developed by CryoLife, of Kennesaw, Ga., the adhesive is called...

Satellites chat via laser. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... ESA and CNES, the European and French space agencies, have made the first publicly acknowledged laser transmission between a pair of satellites orbiting more than 18,000 miles apart. The test, which took place on Nov. 30, 2001, involved...

Robot fights baldness. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(from Medicamat)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Robots could soon restore your hairline. The French biomedical company Medicamat has introduced a robot that removes hair from one part of the scalp and transplants it in another. The Omnigraft uses a hollow tool to remove a hair along with its...

21st century building blocks. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(French Tile and Brick Federation)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... French engineers have brought mankind's oldest building materials into the 21st century. The French Tile and Brick Federation has developed a new type of clay brick called Monomur that provides structural support while acting as both an...

Stand-up MRI. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... A limitation of conventional MRI scanners is that patients must lie down during a test. A new type of MRI from Fonar Corp. of New York lets patients stand and be observed under normal weight-bearing conditions. Problems that are relieved when a...

Planet watch. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * MEXICO A magnitude 6.3 earthquake centered in the Pacific Ocean rattled the homes and nerves of residents in coastal communities and was felt as far away as Guatemala. No deaths, injuries or damages were directly attributed to the Jan. 16...

The smell of future success. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Scented toys that produce a calming effect may make babies as much as 17 percent more receptive to learning, says Dr. Alan Hirsch, neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. Building on Hirsch's...

Quiet voice of failure. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Church bells sometimes sound slightly different just before they fracture. Similarly, temperature changes and unseen damage can affect the way a structure vibrates. Researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., are using bursts of...

Super squirt guns fight fire at sea. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).(Marine Turbine Technologies developing portable maritime firefighting system)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Maritime safety rules specify the type of water-pumping equipment that must be on standby to put out port and ship fires. High-output, or FIFI-class, firefighting systems are so powerful they have to be permanently plumbed into a vessel. This...

Making movies in space. (Tech Watch: aviation * computers * energy * environment * medicine * military * robotics * space * transportation).("Space Station" space film)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... The International Space Station is heading for the box office. On April 17, at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., Lockheed Martin and IMAX Corp. will host the world premiere of "Space Station," the...

Wave of the future. (Boat).(MasterCraft X-Trek and Cobalt BacPac prototype wakeboard boats)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * Peter Granata has little use for cocktail napkins, other than wiping traces of Grey Poupon from the corners of his mouth. Sure, napkins have served as makeshift sketchbooks for some of the world's great designs and inventions, but Granata, of...

Laser vision. (Optics).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * In the next few months you will begin seeing dazzling new photographs of the universe on the Science channel of the PM.Zone. The images will provide a sharper view of distant star systems than those captured by the Hubble Space Telescope....

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo S. (New Cars).(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... Cute as the New Beetle may be, it has never had the goods under the hood to peg the macho meter. It may be a darling of campus coeds, but it's hardly a threat at the stoplight drags. Well, for 2002, VW decided to give the lovable little dome a...

2002 Volvo S60 AWD. (New Cars).(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... Try as we might, we can't get the Volvo S60 AWD to either understeer or oversteer much--even on snow-covered or gravel roads. That stability is due to the car's double-techno-whammy. Part one is Volvo's Dynamic Stability and Traction Control...

2003 Pontiac Vibe. (New Cars).(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... It's hip. It's cool. It's got a DVD-based navigation system and a six-disc CD jukebox. And it's not meant for those who still can't figure out how to program their VCR. Pontiac designers managed to take front-end styling cues from the somewhat...

2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS. (New Cars).(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
April 1, 2002... Way back in 2000, Mitsubishi completely reinvented its Eclipse sport coupe. Just three model years later, the company has injected a little more heat into the car by way of a fresh face and a new performance package. Like the Eclipse GT,...

2003 Lincoln LS. (Detroit Spy Report).(automobile prototype)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... If you look closely at this photo of a prototype Lincoln LS you'll be able to spot a couple of important and unique details. The most obvious, and most important, one is an aluminum box atop the car's hood. Under that crude modification is a...

2003 Chrysler Pacifica. (Detroit Spy Report).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... We've shown you the official photos of the Chrysler Pacifica concept as seen at recent auto shows. But here's the real deal--albeit under extensive camouflage--being put through its paces near Detroit. And while the covering on this vehicle is...

2003 Dodge Ram. (Detroit Spy Report).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... You may have forgotten, but Dodge still has one more full-size truck to unveil in its Ram lineup. Here it is in full camouflage: the Ram dualie. The dual-rear-wheel, diesel-powered, four-wheel-drive Ram will make its appearance this summer as a...

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer ASX. (Asia Spy Report).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... It's called the Airtrek in other parts of the world, but here Mitsubishi's latest SUV is known as the ASX and our spies caught it in full U.S. production trim. This unibody sport utility is based on a stretched version of the compact Lancer...

2003 Kia Sorento. (Asia Spy Report).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Kia's new BL sport utility finally has its production name, Sorento, and we have the latest undisguised photos of it. The new Sorento is not a car-based utility as some earlier reports have stated. Instead, the new SUV will be built on a...

2004 Honda Model X. (Asia Spy Report).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Honda recently announced it will produce this as-yet-unnamed Model X concept wagon. The boxy little five-door is aimed directly at the active GenX-ers of today, with plenty of room for mountain bikes, snowboards and camping gear. Many of the...

2003 Lexus GX 470. (Asia Spy Report).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Lexus will slot this new V8-powered luxury sport utility vehicle neatly between its entry-level RX 300 and flagship LX 470 early next year. The GX 470 is based on a vehicle called the Land Cruiser Prada in other parts of the world. It uses a...

Driving fuelishly. (Jay Leno's Garage).(a look at alternative fuels)
April 1, 2002... * People ask me what I think of cars that use alternative fuels. Naturally, I have an opinion. I had a chance to drive the new BMW 750hL dual-fuel hydrogen car. It uses some existing technology: an internal-combustion engine and conventional...

Coat of arms. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Expedition Parka from Victorinox)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... From Victorinox, the folks that brought you the original Swiss Army knife, and then Swiss Army watches, comes a new line of Victorinox brand apparel. The Expedition Parka, from the company's technical outerwear collection, uses a highly...

'Tis the season. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Michelin)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Michelin claims that its Pilot Sport A/S is an ultra-high-performance tire for all seasons. The key is the tread area's three different types of rubber, which were designed to meet different and extreme driving conditions. For cold weather, a...

Scanning the horizon. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Olympus's ScanTop scanner)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Now anyone can create computerized 3D models. With Olympus's ScanTop scanner, you just place the object to be scanned on the turntable, touch a button and the scanner takes photos of the object from various angles. The included 3D ScanWare...

Electric air. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(brad nailer from Porter-Cable Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... This is a brad nailer that uses a 12-volt battery to power a miniature on-board air compressor. It is equipped with a fitting on its side that lets you connect the tool to an air hose if you outrun the battery. It fires 18-ga. nails from 3/4 to...

Remote Possibility. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Octopus Intellisteer Type R drive system)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Want remote steering for your boat but don't have room behind the dash to install the drive? Try the Octopus Intellisteer Type R remote drive system. You can mount it just about anywhere. Designed to work with any mechanically controlled...

The Revolution is on. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Revolution showerhead from Moen Inc.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Just because it looks like something out of a science fiction movie doesn't mean you shouldn't take the Revolution seriously. It's our impression that it's backed by solid engineering. It's delivered by a company that knows a thing or two about...

Just impossible. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(dial-operated multipurpose tool from American Safety Razor Co.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... In terms of innovation, this $10 hand tool is impossible to beat. It's a dial-operated utility knife, razor scraper, angled wallpaper knife, and a slitting tool for cutting ribbon, tape and cord. It accepts standard utility knife blades and a...

Clean cut. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Perfect Saw Guide)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Many people dread using a handsaw. The reason is simple: They can't cut a straight line with one. Vaughan takes a shot at that problem with this inexpensive saw and angle guide kit. We've never seen anything like it. The tool allows you to make...

Good champagne. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Champagne SE computer speakers)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Designed for use with PCs, Macs and portable MP3 and DVD players, the Champagne SE (for Special Edition) computer speakers are some of the classiest speakers around. Manufactured by Harman Kardon, the SE is a 40-watt three-piece speaker system...

Good things in small packages. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(dishwasher and clothes processor from Equator Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... These two appliances are models of compactness. The dishwasher can be set on a countertop or built into a wall. The 10-amp appliance weighs only 46 pounds, yet its manufacturer says it will hold eight complete place settings. It uses 4 3/4 gal....

Tree hugger. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Bana travel hammock)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... When there's no room at the inn--or no inn--the Bana travel hammock will save the day. Made of parachute material, the 13-ounce hammock opens to 12 x 5 ft. to accommodate two people and support up to 350 pounds. It is soft and waterproof and...

A day's work. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).
April 1, 2002... Poaching eggs and steaming vegetables and rice are all in a day's work for T-Fal's Steam Cuisine 700, a two-layer appliance with a 60-minute timer and a safety auto shutoff. Because the appliance has two external filling slots, the water...

Wrapped to stay. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).
April 1, 2002... Here's the latest variation in steering wheel antitheft devices. The Wrap offers mechanical, audio and visual protection. The steel-reinforced unit uses a tubular lock, LED warning lights, a flashing strobe light and a pain-generating siren....

Uppity. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).
April 1, 2002... Stop struggling to get into your truck. Now you can step up in style with a universal multilevel, adjustable side step. Made of mirror-polished 3-in. stainless steel tubing with nonslip plastic pads, the steps are bolted on with a pair of...

Redefining class. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(Apple's iMac)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2002... Apple's latest iMac is different. In fact, it redefines home computers and puts a great-looking machine on your desk. First of all, it's small--the dome-shaped base is just 10 1/2 in. in diameter. But it also has a 15-in. LCD monitor, which can...

We're all connected. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).
April 1, 2002... If dropped sockets make you crazy, you'll appreciate LinkTools' automatic locking system. The company's new 1/4-in. drive size augments its 3/8-in. drive line and delivers automatic locking no matter which combination or how many tools you use....

Cell saver. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Dropping your cellphone in the lake can ruin your day, not to mention your phone. Now you can secure your phone with the floatable Ewa-Marine Handy & Safe pouch. A sliding rail system ensures a watertight seal, and you can operate the phone...

Fluid drive. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... According to Valvoline, 64 percent of vehicles on the road have logged more than 75,000 miles. MaxLife automatic transmission fluid is the first product of its kind geared to older, high-mileage vehicles. According to the manufacturer, this...

Looking closely at life. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Everyone will want to play with this gadget. It may look like an ultramodern supermarket scanner, but in truth it's a digital microscope that you can plug into a Mac or PC via a USB connection. It comes with a 50x lens that can magnify images...

Hatchet job. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... The Hatchet is Milwaukee's latest invention--an 18-volt reciprocating saw with a six-position pivoting handle. When the handle is folded to 90 [degrees] relative to the body, the Hatchet is short enough, at 13 in., to fit between wall studs....

Permanent record. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... If you want to produce the ultimate tool label or permanently protect warranty and instruction sheets, the ezLaminator is your machine. It's a cold laminator that's easy to use, and it produces an essentially tearproof, waterproof...

Kids cradle. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Up until now, infant car seats were designed to be secured only in the rear passenger seat. The Pioneered Rear Facing Infant Car Seat is said to be the only rear-facing infant car seat to work in conjunction with front-passenger airbags to...

New in the hood. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Designed for extra warmth in colder weather, or for just hiding out, Wenzel's new Monterey and Tahoe sleeping bags are just the ticket. The bags' hoods can be zipped up or laid flat for extra pillow room. The Monterey (33 x 84 in.) and Tahoe...

Do the unthinkable. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... To switch a Black & Decker Firestorm drill from drilling to driving, do the unthinkable: Remove its chuck. Just press on the chuck's pair of press tabs, lift the chuck off, and under it you'll find that the motor shaft has a hex-shank...

DVD on the run. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Sometimes smaller is better, especially if you like to carry your entertainment with you. Zenith's DVP7771 is a great little DVD player with a 7-in. screen, 16:9 aspect ratio, stereo speakers, 3D surround sound, and Dolby Digital and DTS...

Breathe easy. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Most universal clamp-on air filters use inverted cone-style tops that block airflow through the side pleats. K&N has applied its XStream Air Flow Top technology to these popular round and tapered filters for higher airflow rates. Air is drawn...

Movie perfect. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... For those of you looking for a feature-laden camcorder, JVC's new GR-DV2000U may be it. It has a 680,000-pixel progressive scan CCD, the ability to shoot digital still pictures at 1.92 million pixels (1600 x 1200), and enough ports--USB,...

Flash your disk. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... SanDisk Corp, the well-known supplier of flash data storage products, thinks you need higher-performance storage cards. So, the company has created the SanDisk Ultra CompactFlash, which is designed for high-end photographers who need to store a...

Hot pants. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... When the weather turns cold you'll appreciate these Sidewinder Jeans lined with soft Polartec fleece. The jeans are thermally insulated and shield you from bitter winds. Their breathability and wicking properties keep you dry even under high...

On its own. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Your printer no longer needs to plug into your computer to print. Epson's C80WN uses a wireless print server that allows computers to print over radio waves and the 802.11b standard. The C80WN has separate wells for each of its CMYK inks and...

Take a load off. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... The Loadumper is a wheelbarrow with a mission: Save your back. Central to its design is a two-part tube steel frame that takes maximum advantage of the frame's geometry to improve the dumping action. There are two ways to dump it. Unhook the...

Gate mate. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Tailgates have been around since the invention of the pickup, but here's a new wrinkle. DoubleGate is a double-door, side-hinged tailgate. Opened or closed with one hand, the doors allow easy loading of heavy items on the truck bed without...

Cushy life. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Here's a new way to pack fragile items for shipment. Inflata-Pak air-cushion packaging consists of an inner pouch that conforms to the shape of an object, while the outer pouch forms a protective cushion. You supply the air for the pouch by...

Time traveler. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Simpson Door Co., founded in 1912, dates back to the Arts & Crafts era. It makes sense, then, that the company would introduce a line of doors in the Craftsman style. The doors come in one-, two-and three-panel types and include clear insulated...

An eyeful. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... Tracking game in dense foliage and brush just got easier, thanks to Steiner's new 10x30 and 12x30 Predator binoculars. These portable minis weigh less than 11 ounces and measure 4.7 x 2.8 x 1.8 in., so hunters and wildlife enthusiasts can spot...

Stand tall. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... No matter how big your kitchen is, you never seem to have enough counter space. The Bagel Best Super Toasty Oven is designed to make use of the vertical space under the cabinets as opposed to horizontal space along the counter. Its quartz...

Head trip. (Great Stuff: from home improvement to outdoors, automotive to electronics, here's the newest gear you'll want to own).(advertisement)
April 1, 2002... You can take your pillow with you. The MKG inflatable full-size travel pillow measures 18 x 24 in. and fits in a compact 8 x 3.5-in. bag. The pillow, which also can be used for lower back support, fits a full-size pillowcase. Made of heavy-duty...

Air Force Special Ops; a week with the U.S. Air Force's little-known commando unit.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2002... * When it comes to versatility, it is hard to beat the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). "We are the Air Force's only ground combat force," says Capt. Mike Martin, chief of current operations for AFSOC's 720th Special Tactics Group...

Editor's choice: the Consumer Electronics Show took over Las Vegas once again and we found the best of the best. (Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Awards).
April 1, 2002... * Want to know how to survive the Consumer Electronics Show? Carry plenty of lip balm and hand lotion, wear your most comfortable--yet fashionable--shoes, and don't stay up too late boozing and gambling. Because in Las Vegas, the desert air...

Crash and learn: in the wake of a rash of high-profile fatalities in 2001, NASCAR seeks safer racing through technology. (Motorsports).(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)(new safety equipment)
April 1, 2002... * No other fatality in the history of NASCAR has stirred so much sadness and controversy as the death of Dale Earnhardt. To have the most successful of its drivers killed on the last turn on the last lap of its biggest event, on live...

The magic number: $899: right now, the computer retailers say it's $899. So what do you get for $899? We check it out. (Computers).(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2002... * It seems your dream computer is always more than you can afford. So like most people, you probably buy the best computer possible, without breaking the bank. We were reminded of this when we tested a number of moderately priced...

Monster mash: big hands and big feet mean crushed cars. (Special April Drive Report).(Bob Chandler's Bigfoot No. 10 monster truck)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... * Nothing struts your machismo like a big, bold American 4x4 truck. When you take command of a V8-powered beast you are the king of the road, the grand poohbah of power. You can crawl over a boulder the size of a Volkswagen, or yank a house...

100 years of classic ads from Popular Mechanics; grow hair, muscles and fishworms. And make a fortune in the potato chip business. Over the past 100 years, some of the best, funniest and strangest ads have appeared in Popular Mechanics.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Pick up an old issue of POPULAR MECHANICS and flip through its pages. Sure, the stories and photos are great, but what about those ads! Over the last 100 years, the advertising carried within each issue of POPULAR MECHANICS has informed,...

Vroomy and versatile: the new crop of boats and motors for 2002 are a winning combination. (Boating).(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
April 1, 2002... * Scantily clad bathing beauties, the scream of unleashed, unlimited horsepower and, of course, the time to enjoy it all. All of this may sell boats when times are good and wallets are fat. But in today's economy, boat-builders must temper the...